Childhood cancer is the second leading cause of death among children, after Injuries. In Louisiana, about 200 children under the age of 20 are diagnosed with cancer each year. The most common types of cancer in children are leukemia, cancers of the brain and nervous system, and lymphoma. Despite noted improvements in pediatric survival rates, interest in the causes of cancer, effectiveness of treatment and late effects from the cancer treatment remains high.

In 2008, the US Congress signed into law the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act, which created the Early Case Capture of Pediatric and Young Adult Cancers program (ECC) to increase the availability of timely pediatric cancer data for the surveillance, clinical, and research communities. The LTR responded by enhancing its routine cancer surveillance activities and building sustainable infrastructure for identifying new pediatric and young adult (ages 0‐19) cancer cases within 30 days of diagnosis.

Reporting requirements: Only the pathology report and basic demographic data.

All solid tumors of the brain and central nervous system, including the meninges and intracranial endocrine structures, listed in the ICD‐O‐3 with behavior codes of “/0” (benign disease) or “/1” (disease of uncertain malignant potential)

Diagnostic Confirmation: With the exception of brain tumors, all cases must be microscopically confirmed.

Timeframe for Facility Reporting to Louisiana Tumor Registry:

By the end of September 2014, Early Case Capture reports (selected data items only, see below) are to be submitted to the Louisiana Tumor Registry within 30 days of diagnosis. Complete reports must be submitted within normal reporting timeframe (six months from diagnosis or first contact).

Reporting Options

Hospitals, facilities and healthcare providers may use the following options to comply with the LTR reporting requirements of ECC:

Transmit electronic pathology reports of cancer diagnosis from facilities to the LTR in real time and provide the basic demographic data